Manhole cover lifter



1958 E. N. SADLER 2,846,259

MANHOLE COVER LIFTER Filed Feb. 5, 1954 I4 w. sl?

' INVENTOR. 5J7 M (7046? nited amass MANHoLE CGVER LIFTER Ernest N. Sadler, San Francisco, Calif, assignor to Peter .1. Feykert, San Francisco, Calif.

This invention relates to a manhole cover lifter, and more particularly one which may be used by one or two men with complete assurance and safety.

Manhole covers frequently weigh 500 pounds and upward, and because of their weight and unwieldy size, difficulties are encountered in lifting and removing the manhole covers. Likewise, the fit between the cover and the manhole may be tight, jammed or wedged, making it difficult to loosen or move. Among the difficulties encountered may be mentioned the following: A man or men lifting a manhole cover with conventional equipment such as crowbars, hooks and the like, must stand ciose to the manhole cover. Consequently there is a considerable risk of falling into the manhole. Also, the sheer weight of a manhole cover may over-strain a man, or a sudden jerk or pull may cause internal damage and injury. It has long been recognized by safety engineers that such lifting and removing and replacing of manhole covers, constitutes an industrial hazard.

it is an object of the present invention to provide a tool for lifting manhole covers which not only lessens the difficulties which are normally encountered but minimizes the hazards mentioned above.

Likewise, it is an object to produce a tool which is superior to tools heretofore used for this purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool or implement to assist in lifting manhole covers which is simple in its design and operation and which eliminates the strain upon a man or men operating the same.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a tool or implement of the character and for the purpose described which eliminates or reduces the hazard of men falling into an open manhole while engaged in the process of removing or restoring a cover.

Another object is to provide a manhole cover lifter which can be operated by one man or by two men, as desired, and which is adjustable to facilitate either type of operation.

Further objects are to provide a construction of maximum simplicity, economy and ease of assembly and disassembly, also such further objects, advantages and capabilities as will fully appear and as are inherently possessed by the device and the invention described herein.

The invention further resides in the combination, construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and while there is shown therein a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that the same is merely illustrative of the invention and that the invention is capable of modification and change and comprehends other details of construction without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

Gne form of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a view in side elevation of the manhole cover lifter of the invention showing the same with double chains attached to a manhole cover and in readi- 2,846,259 Patented Aug. 5, 1958 ice ness to lift the same. The view in Figure 1 shows the manner in which the tool or implement is employed by two men.

Figure 2 is a view similar to that of Figure 1 but showing the manner in which the same tool or implement with a single chain is employed by a single man.

Referring now to the drawings, the tool or implement of the present invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 and it is shown in both Figures 1 and 2 engaging a conventional manhole cover 11. The latter covers a manhole 12 within which is fitted an iron or steel ring 13 which is formed with an annular shoulder 14 to receive the manhole cover. The ring 13 is embedded in or otherwise fixed to a pavement or other supporting structure shown at 15. The manhole cover 11 is shown as being formed with a circular beveled edge 16 which fits within the annular groove 14 to facilitate placement of the manhole cover in the manhole and to pro vide a tight fit when so placed.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 1, the tool or implement 10 there shown comprises a sturdy steel or wooden bar 17 which is tapered outwardly from its midportion toward each end, such that the bar has its greatest diameter in the middle. The purpose of this taper is explained hereinafter. Fixed to the bar 17 at its wide midportion is a sleeve 18 to which is welded a loop 19 which extends axially with respect to the sleeve. Formed integrally with the loop 19 are horns or hooks 2.9 which extend outwardly from opposite sides of the loop as illustrated. The sleeve 18, the loop 19 and its lateral hoops 20 may be cast as a single unit if desired.

As mentioned above, the bar 17 tapers outwardly from its midportion toward its ends. By reason of this taper it is possible to make the sleeve 18 of an inside diameter to fit snugly over the wide midportion. This facilitates mounting the collar 18, which is easily fitted over either end portion of the bar 17. The collar is then driven in wardly to the middle of the bar, where it fits tightly. If desired, the collar 18 may be fixed more positively to the bar as by means of screws, bolts, wedges or in any other suitable manner.

A pair of chains 21 formed of links 21a are provided. As shown, the terminal link 21a of each of the chains 21 is secured to the loop 19. If the loop 19 is welded to the sleeve 18 the terminal links 210 may be looped over and secured in the loop 19 beforethe latter is welded or otherwise affixed to the collar 18. Or, if desired, a reliable snap fastener or other detachable means may be provided at the end of each of the chains 21 so that these chains may be attached to and detached from the loop 19 at will. To the other end of each of the chains 21 is a fixed hook 25 having a pointed end 25a which is capable of reception in the handhole space or in the small crack or annular space which normally exists between the outer circumference of a manhole cover 11 and the inner circumference of the ring 13.

As stated above, the implement 10 is shown in Figure 1 in the manner in which it would be employed by two men. Thus, each of the chains 21 is used and each of the hooks 25 attached to the ends of the chains 21 is in engagement with the manhole cover in the manner shown. Preferably the hooks 25 are placed at diametrically opposite points of the manhole cover. One man will then grasp one end of the bar 17 and another man will grasp the other end of the bar. They will then lift the manhole cover free of the ring 13 and the annular groove 14 will swing the manhole cover to one side where it can be deposited on the street or pavement. There is no danger of dropping the cover on the mens toes or of the men falling into the opening. When it is desired to restore the manhole cover 11 to the manhole 12, the same operations are carried out but in reverse,

As frequently happens, it may be necessary for a single man to lift a manhole cover. In such case the same tool or implement may be employed, the manner of use being that illustrated in Figure 2. Thus, only one of the chains 21 is employed and only a portion of it is preferably used. As illustrated, one end of the bar 17 is placed on the pavement adjacent the manhole cover and the bar 17 is held so that it overlies the manhole cover with the other end of the bar extending over the pavement or ground on the opposite side of the manhole cover. Meanwhile, that chain 21 which is employed is preferably shortened; This is readily accomplished by looping one of the intermediate links 21a over one of the hooks 20, i'. e., the one farthest away from the fulcrum point 26. By this means the upper or raised end of the bar 17, which is the end located to the right as viewed in Figure 2, is placed at a convenient height for the single operator. In this case it will be apparent that the implement 10 is converted from a lifting tool as illustrated in Figure l to a lever of the third class as illustrated in Figure 2.

The operator then lifts the right-hand end of the bar 17 as viewed in Figure 2, thereby elevating the adjacent side of the manhole cover and pivoting; the same on its fulcrum and pivot point 26 on the opposite side. When the manhole cover is lifted to a height which will clear the edge of the ring 13, it may then be swung laterally by means of the implement 10 on the pivot point 26 until it is substantially clear of the manhole 12 and may then be loweredto the ground in a position leaving the manhole 12 unobstructed. By having a short length of chain between the hook 25 and the anchor hook 20, a high degree of control can be exerted over the manhole cover while it is being lifted and swung away from the manhole. Also, the mechanicaladvantage can be varied by using one of the hooks or the other.

It will be apparent that the manhole cover can be restored to the closed position illustrated in Figure 2 by substantially the same operation but carried out in reverse.

It is, therefore, apparent that a manhole cover lifter has been provided which is very simple in its construction and operation and which is operable by a single man or by two men. When used by a single man it can be used as a lever, thus providing a definite mechanical advantage.

When used by two men, it provides a convenient lifting tool or implement. The effective lengths of the chains 21 can be adjusted at will. The tool is flexible in its operation, lends itself to different requirements and reduces greatly the physical effort and the hazards of operation. It is apparent that it may be used for other purposes as well as lifting manhole covers.

I claim:

1. A manhole cover lifter comprising a bar having outwardly tapering end portions and a midportion of greater diameter than said end portions; suspension means in the form of a sleeve tightly embracing the midportion of said bar, a loop fixed to and depending from said sleeve and a hook fixed to and projecting from said loop and in the same plane therewith; at least one chain fixed at one end to said loop and having links capable of hanging on said hook for shortening said chains; and a hook fixed to the free end of said chain for engaging and gripping an edge of a manhole cover or the like.

2. A manhole cover lifter comprising a bar having outwardly tapering end portions and a midportion of greater diameter than said end portions; suspension means in the form of a sleeve tightly embracing the midportion of said bar, a loop fixed to and depending from said sleeve and at least one hook fixed to and projecting from said loop in the same plane therewith; and a pair of chains each fixed at one end to said loop and having links capable of hanging, on said hook for shortening said chain; and a hook fixed to the free end of each such chain for engaging and gripping an edge of a manhole cover or the like.

References (Jited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 389,856 Sanbornet al' Sept. 18, 1888 559,669 Broderick May 5, 1896 747,079 Martin Dec. 15, 1903 763,249 Blanchet June 21, 1904 907,034 Gracey Dec. 15, 1908 1,096,378 Lawrence May 12, 1914 1,369,976 Lindquist Mar. 1, 1921 1,528,149 Groswold Mar. 3, 1925 2,706,131 Matz Apr. 12, 1955 

